Contestants put best foot forward in Dargaville fun run

Good weather and good fun went step to step in the Baylys to Dargaville fun run, in which 515 entrants had the choice of a 12km or 6.8km run or walk.

The Newman Engineering Baylys 2 Dargaville Run/Walk, held on Sunday, has been an annual event for 12 years in various guises and is now one of the seven in the Sport Northland Run/Walk Series.

The Baylys to Dargaville event usually attracts around 500 entrants. Sunday's event was again notable for its family friendly atmosphere.

The oldest contestant to finish was over 80 and the youngest was a baby carried in a pack on its father's back.

The first man home was Ian Calder from Whangarei, in 45.46 minutes, and the first woman was Maria Akesson from Kerikeri, in 50.47 minutes.

The other events in the popular series that caters for all ages and all abilities are the Whangarei Beach 2 Basin, Paihia Run/Walk, Mangawhai Heads 2 Harbour, Whangarei Run/Walk Festival, Kaitaia Run/Walk and Kerikeri Half Marathon. Next in this year's series is the Kaitaia event, on August 3.